Not All Roses (An Attempt to Improve Poetic Accuracy)

Roses are redViolets are purpleSugar is sweetAnd slant rhymes are hurtful

3. A equals A

Roses are redViolets are violetSugar is sweetAnd you are you

4. Gardening

Roses are redViolets are lavenderI've never been goodat botanical taxonomy

5. Netflix and Chill

Roses are redViolets are flowersLet's smooch on the couchwhile we watch Fawlty Towers

6. Derriere

Roses are redViolets are tinySugar is sweetAnd so is your heinie

7. Backpedaling

Roses are redViolets are everywhereThis isn't a come-onI just like your underwear

8. Grammar

Roses are redViolets are delicateViolet's a nounThe rest is the predicate

9. Aspartame

Roses are redViolets are seasonalSugar is sweetbeyond what is reasonable

10. Special Request

Roses are redViolets are bloomingWould you mind donningthis goldfish costuming?

11. Energy Saver

Roses are redViolets are allergensI'm thinking of changingmy lightbulbs to halogens

12. Invitation to Compromise

Roses are redViolets are petalledYou're not getting youngerIt's time that you settled

13. Confession

Roses are redViolets are ViolaceaeI lied when I saidI didn't know botany

14. Going to the Chapel

This is the churchThis is the steepleOpen the doorsAnd so are you

15. Acceptance

Some roses are redToday I saw tiny violets in a field near a playgroundamong wild daisies and mallow leaves. They were blue—an unmistakable primary—five petalled, ivy leaved: violets,not speedwells or baby eyes. White centerswhich little girls poked. I watched to see if they'd weavedaisy crowns. They didn'tand I didn't teach them.Perhaps they were sweet and perhaps I wasn't.